Pattern drum and chain for knitting-machines.



E. LIPPITT.

PATTERN DRUM AND CHAIN FORKNITTING MACHtNES.

' APPUCATION HLEU lAN-l8.19l5.

1 ,223 ,8 1 1 Patented Apr. 24-, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. LIPPITT.

PAHERN DRUM AND CHAIN FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 18. 1915- 11.. m l N, w, w 3 s 2 S L 2 e m .1, m 4% UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

LIPPIT'I', OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'IO GRANDRAPIDS UNDER- WEAR COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION DIE-MICHIGAN.

PATTERN mum AND 01min FOR. KNITTING-machines.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Emnu Lirrrr'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pattern Drums and Chains for Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to pattern drum and chain constructions for knitting machines, it being the object and purpose of this invention to, provide a drum capable of receivingand operating a pattern chain of indefinite length and especially to provide a chain which may be used with saiddrum and which may beextended to any desired length whereby a pattern for a knitted fabricmay be had not limiting the length of the fabric to any prescribed extent. A further object and purpose of the invention is to provide a special construction of link in the pattern chainwhich may be quickly and easilyattached to, or detached from other links whereby if it is desired at any time to change the pattern, all that is necessary is to remove the required links and insert in their stead others corresponding to the desired pattern. A. further object of the invention is to provide means for securing these links together against accidental dis placement. To these eflds I have constructed the companying drawings, in which;

1 chain mounted thereon.

Figure 1 is avertical section takeii through a knitting machine and illustrating the application of the drum and chain to, said machine, only such parts of the knitting ma:

' chine proper being shown as are necessary to show the application of said drum and chain to the machine. Fig. 2 is an end view of the drum and Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the chain. Fig. 4 shows in side elevation one of the links which are used to makeup the completed chain,

Fig. 5 shows two of the links connected drum and chain illustrated in the ac-- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr 24 1911 Application and January 18, 1915. Serial No. 2,926.

end to end and also illustrates different types of links than that shown in Fig. 4; While,

Fig. 6 shows a still further modification in theshape of the links.

Like reference. characters refer. to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The pattern drum 1 is mounted for rotation a short distance below the needle bed 2 of the knitting machine, said bed carrying a plurality of needles 3 which at their lower ends rest' on jacks 4, each jack being provided with a downwardly extending projec tion 5 passing through the bed 2 and ex, tending toward the pattern drum. The knitting machine as a whole is designatedby reference character 6 but only these parts which have particular reference to the pattern druin and chain are specifically noted.

A plurality of grooves 7 are formed lengthwise of the drum and spaced equal distances apart around the circumference of the drum. The pattern chain is made up of a large number of links of difi'erent shapes,

certain links illustrated at 8 being known as blanks, while other of the links on their outer edges have integral projections 9 extending farther outward than the outer edges of the blanks 8. The projections 9 may be of various lengths as shown in Fi s. 4, 5 and 6 extendin either the entire wor ing length of, the link or merel a fraction thereof. In practice, 'witheac reciprocatory motion of a cam member which actuates needles in a needle bed, as will be fully understood by those skilled in the art of knitting, it is designed that the drum shall be given .a movement equal toflone-sixth of the distance between: each of the grooves 7 and accordingly each of the projections 9 in length are equal to some multiple. of fenesixth of the entire working length of a link.

With other designs of machines a different fractional art may be used, the invention not being limited in any manner to the specific relations described.

Each link at one end; is formed with an integral rounded head or balllO and at' its other end withia similarly shaped 11 whereby a plurality of the links maybe hstened toget er end to end by merely the ball at the end of one link in the socket at the end of another link. Each linktalso has an integral projection or tooth 12 on its underside and is further provided with an opening 13 substantially midway be tween its ends.

In building the chain a plurality. of links are attached together end to end to any desired or re uiredlen' th, forming an endless series 0 links an theremay be placed .in this series of links any type of link desired, either the blanks 8 or links having projections 9 ofgreater or less length.

plurality ofthese endless series of links are then located side by side withthe open ings 13 thereof in alinement and adapted to receive a rod 14 therethrough which will and the width ofthe completed chain is equal to the length of the pattern drum which lies directly beneath the needle bed, there being an endless series of links for each needle. As the drum rotates step by step the chain will be moved correspondingly, it being understood that the' grooves 7 of the drum receive the .projeetions or v teeth 12 of the links, thereby turning the chain simultaneously with the drum. When any link is a blank the jack 4 will not be elevated and the needle 3' above said jack will remain in lower position, but when any link having a projection 9 thereon comes underneath its associated needle of the needle bed, the projecting portions 5 ofthe 1a ck will. ride-on the promotions 9 of the ink andwill be elevated, thereby elevating the associated needle 3 into position'to be actuated as the knitting machine is oper-.

ated. It will be evident that by" properly placing thevarious kinds of links, any pat- 1-- tern may be. produced. It is also evident that the pattern chain is not limited in length 'but may be extended indefinitely so as to produce a fabric of practically in definite length; and of continuously varied pattern, if desired, the entire length thereof, it not beingmecessary to repeat the pat,- tern upon the completion of a revolution of drum 1 as heretofore. The links being connected'by the ball-and socket' arrangement as described: are easily attached together and may be readily :det ached, being held,

howeven'agafinst accidental displacement in the machine by reason of the fact that a link between the ends thereof.

large number of links are tied together side by side by means of the rods 14 and for any disconnection to take place between two links, it is necessary to move the bod of links corresponding to the entire width of the chain w ich is a ractical impossibility. A pattern chain of this construction has great utility and may be uickl and easily constructed and assemble an when any link or links become worn, broken or in any other manner useless, it can be very easily repaired without the necessity of throwing away the entire chain or an-entire connect-- ed series of links.

Without limiting construction, I claim:

1. A pattern chain for knittingmachines comprisedof a plurality of'fiat links having their ends detachably connected to gether to form an endless series, a plurality of said endless series of links located side by side, with the sides of the links in con tact throughout the entire length thereof and means connecting the conrespondiing, contacting links of the diiferent series to gether, substantially as described.

2. A pattern chain for knitting machines comprised of a pluralityof flat links having ends detachably connected together to form an endless series of links, a'plurality of said endless series of links located side by side, and rods passing through the corresponding contacting links of the difierent series serving to connect said links together, substantially as described.

3. A pattern chain for knitting machines comprised of a plurality of links, each formed with a rounded head at one end myself to details of and with a socket at the other end, said head and socket being in alinement, said links being detachably connected end to end to form an endless series, the socket of one link receiving the head of an adjacent link, a plurality of said endless series of links located side by side, and means connecting the contacting links of the tlifl'erent seriesof links together, substantially as described.

4. A link for pattern chains formed from a fiat piece of metal having a rounded head v atone end and a socket atthe opposite end,

said head and socket 'bein'g' in' ahnement,

and a tooth projecting at one edge of the 5. A link for pattern chains a fiat piece of metal having a rounded .head at one end and a socket atthe opposite end,- said head and socket being in alinement,v.a

formed from toothat one edge between the ends of the link and an integral projection atthe opposite edge of the link, substantially as dcscribed.

. 6. 'A link for'pattern chains formed from a flat piece of metal having a rounded head I 

